As Kyle mentioned in his first post, we see this blog as a place for serious discussion of telecommunications policy and the potential impact of changes to legislation and regulation.  We’ll get to that very shortly.  However, we also recognize that the cable platform of video, voice and data have fundamentally changed the way we interact with our world.  The information resources available, the entertainment options it affords us, and the new ways we can share our lives with the world shape our day-to-day lives in ways we never thought possible a few years ago.

What better way to explore some of those possibilities than to spend a few days at the 2008 International CES - the showcase for consumer electronics.  Along the way, we’ll look into some of the issues facing both the cable industry and electronics manufacturers - things like the explosion of social media, the transition to digital television, and the best way to protect intellectual property in the age of easily transferable digital media.  Here’s just a few of the things I plan to cover between now and Thursday.

Monday - We’ll take a look at Television 2.0: How the entertainment platform is changing the way we communicate and access entertainment.  We’ll also explore the DTV conversion and the government coupon program, intellectual property and government policy

Tuesday - Smart and connected TVs, PVRs, advancements in set-top boxes and PC media centers may change the way we access and view content.  In addition, we’ll cover FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s forum, social media, the spectrum auction, and staying connected in an increasingly mobile world.  Comcast’s Brian Roberts is giving the Tuesday keynote and has some surprise announcements.  We’ll cover it as it happens.

Wednesday - Discussion turns to the next generation of broadband platforms.   We’ll cover the “Last Gadget Standing”, where a panel of Yahoo! bloggers will look at the best gadgets on display to see which will last, and which will become the Macarena of consumer electronics.  Changes to mobile and broadband networks are also on the agenda.

Thursday - We’ll close the week with a look at CableCARDs and Gary Shapiro’s discussion of the regulatory environment facing consumer electronics.

Somewhere in there we’ll also stroll the show floor and  look at the latest and greatest gadgets for the home, car, and personal use on display here.  We thought we would spend a few days looking at the devices you’ll be using in the near future to get the most out of your cable service.

Have anything else you’d like us to look at while we’re here?  Leave a comment and let me know.  I’ll do my best to keep up with the feedback and answer your requests.